Koninklijke Yachtclub Nieuwpoort

The Koninklijke Yachtclub Nieuwpoort / Club Royal de Yacht de
Nieuwpoort (Royal Nieuwpoort Yacht Club, KYCN, website) is situated on the left bank of the River Yser, about to reach the North Sea. Founded in 1932 as a branch of the Royal Yacht Club of Ostende, the club separated in a friendly manner from it in 1937 and was granted the honorific title of "Royal" in 1984.

The burgee of KYCN is yellow with two blue triangles placed near the
hoist and a blue royal crown in the yellow field. It is therefore
similar to the burgee of other Belgian Royal yacht clubs, in different
colours. When still a section of the Ostende club, the burgee
had an anchor (black?), instead of the current crown.

There are six more burgees and two
swallowtailed flags assigned to members or club officials. The crown is not used here, presumably reserved for the club burgee proper; instead, there is an upright anchor and a system of discs, borders, and/or flag shapes.

The burgee awarded to honorary members, including the former Fleet Commanders, is similar to the active member's burgee, but with a thin red border added; the burgee awarded to a golden member, that is, each year, the member who has most distinguished him/herself in competitions, is similar to the active member's burgee, but with a thin gold border added.

The burgee identifying the Vlootkapitein (Fleet Captain), is similar to the active member's burgee, but with a black disc added in the upper hoist; the burgee identifying the Vlootcommandant (Fleet Commander) has a thin red border added.

Board member's burgee - Images by António Martins, 11 May 2007

The burgee identifying a Beheerder (Trustee or Board
member) is similar to the active member's burgee, but with two black discs in the upper and lower hoist, respectively.

The burgee identifying the Vice-Commodore is similar to club member's burgee, but swallow-tailed and with a black dot in the upper hoist; the burgee identifying the Voorzitter (Chairman) or Commodore, has another black disc added in the lower hoist.

Since 1988, KYCN has been the organizer of the H-Cup, a project of Jeanine Chevron and Ernest Bonnechère, aimed at collective sailing, uniting amateurs and more experienced sailers,
thus strengthening the bond between members and, of course, providing
excellent occasions for acquiring, or enlarging, experience. Different
categories exist and prizes are awarded.
A flag was designed being the international signal flag H (vertically divided
white-red) and bearing a blue axe overall, placed
diagonally (ascending), the blade to the right.
The axe most probably recalls the coat of arms of Nieuwpoort. Moreover, an axe is
in French a hache, which is strictly homophonic with the letter H.

Ivan Sache & Jan Mertens, 16 March 2007

Watersportkring van de Luchtmacht Nieuwpoort

Burgee of WSKLuM - Image by Ivan Sache, 11 September 2005

The Watersportkring van de Luchtmacht / Cercle Nautique de la
Force Aérienne - Nautic Circle of the Air Force in Nieuwpoort, WSKLuM, website) was founded in 1958 as a section of the Sport Circle of the Air Force (Sportkring van de Luchtmacht / Cercle Sportif de la Force Aérienne) and was based in the air and sea search and rescue complex in the Vlotkom. On 26 September 1986, the new club house of the WSKLuM was
inaugurated in the Portus Novus. The club has 1,500 members
representing c. 500 families, 14 landing stages and 370 morrign spaces.
Since 1982, its president is Marcel Terrasson, past Commander of the
Belgian Tactical Air Force and president of the Belgian Royal Yachting
Federation in 1993-2000.